Re: Why study baby teeth?

[Franz Schoenhofer <schoenho@via.at>]

At 09:43 10.08.2000 -0500, you wrote:
>
>On Wed, 9 Aug 2000, Norman & Karen Cohen wrote:
>
>> Sorry Bob,
>> I live near Toms River, and there are cancer clusters there, clusters
recognized
>> by the US and New Jersey Governments. The question we are trying to
answer with
>> the TFP is - to what degree did the low level radiation emitted and
leaked by
>> Oyster Creek Nuke contribute to these clusters, especially in
combination with
>
>	--Any scientist would tell you that the way to determine this is
>to determine the radiation doses received by emissions from Oyster Creek
>-- Health Physicists know very well how to do this, based on measured
>emissions -- and determine how many cancers could be caused by these
>radiation doses, using a conservative theory like linear-no threshold. As
>a check, the radiation doses should be compared with natural radiation and
>medical exposures. Another check would be on the Sr-90 content of milk 
>consumed in the area, which is presumably the source of the Sr-90 in
>the baby teeth. This procedure would be very much cheaper
>and faster than the tooth fairy approach which has many uncertainties.
>	The only advantage of the tooth fairy approach is in the public
>relations aspects. 


I agree with your comment, but would like to add a little: Who would care
for the Sr-90 levels in milk or grass or aerosols, which I do not doubt are
available? Nobody! But the connection to "children" and "teeth" makes it a
"winning team" and an issue for "concerned" people.

Franz


Franz Schoenhofer
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A-1160 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: +43-1-495 53 08
Fax.: same number
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e-mail: schoenho@via.at


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Office:
Ministerialrat Dr. Franz Schoenhofer
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Radiation Protection Department (BMLFUW I/8 U)
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phone: -43-1-71100-4458
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